Low Scoring Thriller as Goats chase Selkirk

Match Partners: GSB Solicitors - many thanks to the team for their support!

Selkirk travelled to Haddington on Saturday 7th May. Two sides have had their recent histories entwined in a decade in ESCA Division 3, hard to separate, and this was another nervy contest which twisted and turned. Selkirk arrived celebrating 150 years at their Philiphaugh ground; 1872 being the same year that the sheriffdom of Haddington & Berwick was divided, partitioning these two historic towns. James Shaw won the toss for the home side and elected to field on a soft but true Neilson Park surface, garnished with new branded stumps for the first time. A reduction in “fines” offered to the first bowler to hit the maroon timbers, but for the first half an hour, such thoughts were far from minds. Blades & Proctor struggled to adjust their lengths on a very different surface to last week, with Greg Fenton and Rob Atherton taking full toll of anything short of a length. Selkirk’s openers raced along to 42 in just 6 overs.

The introduction of Rob Hiley, who has certainly rediscovered his zip, stemmed the flow. Ably supported by Ash Kumar’s return to bowling form, Hiley found regular movement both ways, and straightened one past Fenton’s bat for a vital breakthrough in the ninth over. Atherton played one shot too many and was bowled by a flighted ball from Kumar for an aggressive and influential 27, and the score became 51 for 3 with Michael Fenton (after a matchwinning 75 against Marchmont) the unlucky recipient of a shooter to become Hiley’s second victim. Adam Murphy played one glorious cover drive - quite possibly shot of the day, before he too was bowled by the Haddington allrounder. Rory Banks, so often Selkirk’s talisman, could not settle as Kumar found fizz from a length and yorked himself on the charge. Five wickets had gone down for 15 runs, and though Harry Murphy and Blaine Gillie combined well, Rob Macdonald’s left arm spin accounted for 3-12. Alan Cruickshank snaffled the other two to fall, with Hiley taking a sharp catch at slip to wrap the innings up for 97 in the 32nd over. Haddington’s spinners taking 7-44 after Hiley’s breakthroughs.

Before we move to the second act, it must be noted that a magnificent and convivial return to tea was had. Though the tennis club hovered throughout the pavilion like neighbourhood cats when a rival enters their garden - whilst hosting a tremendous BBQ it must be said - both sides enjoyed a beige buffet to make up for the many missed since 2019. There was though no sugar; sorry Ash.

A small chase? A long batting line up? Alas, the Haddington faithful had seen this before. The social members emerged from their afternoon aperitifs to a calamitous 32 for 5. They would not have been blamed for returning immediately to The Tyneside to maintain quality control over the latest firkin of HPA. But this is a changed side at Neilson Park, and though the scorelines remain worrisomely close, there is grit and experience in those furrowed brows. Blades & Scott Logan combined to steady the ship, and though a paltry 44-5 at drinks, they had seen off much of the attacking threat. Runs then began to flow, but at 65 Blades lost his focus, and his leg stump. Logan fell next over, adjudged LBW, and now it were seven down with thirty still to win. Enter skipper Shaw, who calmly patted back the returning (and commendably accurate Dan Heard) with more time to craft victory than a week ago. Macdonald [ Player of the Match] played strokes a no.9 has no business playing, but was beaten by a Fenton snorter. Kumar then took up the mantle and took Haddington within 4 runs of victory - only to steer a ball straight to gully which he might have put away to the boundary.

Enter Proctor, the finisher. Grey hoodie, as if to mark him out to all on the park as the one man for the job. He swished, he blocked, and finally he placed one through third man for two. A glorious two. A one wicket win. And what a tremendous, silly, and well spirited game of cricket. Further detail on the second innings is lacking as our reporter cowered behind the washing up, the showers, and the scoreboard. Much great bowling was witnessed and some impressive batting in parts which receives little reward in the ‘book. Selkirk were superb as ever in the field, and the return fixture is sure to be worth reading about.

On Saturday 14th, Haddington head to Cavalry Park at the pleasure of Marchmont 2s. Thanks go to GSB Properties for supporting this game.

James Shaw presents to Player of the Match Rob Macdonald.

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HCC vs Loretto School, April 2022